A total of 1,018 special permits were issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to public utility buses so they may be allowed to ply their routes amid the expected exodus of passengers this Holy Week.
LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said Wednesday, April 9, that the special permits will be valid from April 11 to 27 to cover the Holy Week and the days immediately after, allowing buses to accommodate passengers outside their designated routes.
The permits were granted to buses originating from Metro Manila with various points of destination in the provinces to augment the supply of provincial buses that would operate during the peak travel period, he noted.
Further, the LTFRB also began conducting random inspections of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and transport terminals to ensure the safe and orderly travel of Filipino commuters for Semana Santa.
The inspections, which started on April 7 and would continue throughout the travel rush, cover the checking of the validity of operators’ documents including permits, fare matrices, vehicle markings, and safety accessories.
“Ang paalala po namin sa mga pasahero ngayong Holy Week ay magplano nang maaga. I-check ang schedules ng biyahe at tiyaking maayos na ang mga tiket at ibang necessary documents (We remind the passengers to plan early this Holy Week. Check the schedules of the trips and secure your tickets and other necessary documents),” Guadiz said.
Beginning Friday, April 11, the LTFRB will also monitor private terminals to secure the presence of help desks and a sufficient number of personnel who will assist the passengers.
Meanwhile, Guadiz warned the public against using unregistered or “colorum” vehicles as this may pose safety risks not only to them but also to other people.
“Iwasan din sana natin ang pagsakay sa mga ‘colorum’ o illegal na mga sasakyan dahil ang mga ito ay hindi dumaan sa tamang inspeksyon at walang insurance coverage para sa pasahero (Let us stop using colorum or illegal vehicles as these did not undergo proper inspection and they don’t have insurance coverage for the passengers),” he explained.
Commuters were reminded by the LTFRB to continue practicing basic health precautions during their trips. The LTFRB chief encouraged travelers to use face masks and bring with them hygiene kits and alcohols for their protection especially in crowded areas.